Current Events

Bob Brechin, The History of Palitoy

As we approach the centenary of Palitoy, Bob Brechin, former Chief Designer at Palitoy, will be giving an illustrated talk spanning the days from the end of WW I to when the design department closed down in 1984 - the same year as Action Man was demobbed! He will be exploring how developments in plastics, and the processing techniques involved, turned a cottage industry into what has become a multi-million dollar, multi-national marketing operation. Much of Bob’s talk will review the development of Palitoy's most famous toy, Action Man, in which Bob and the Design Team were closely involved.

Stephenson Lift Bridge Update:

At the Leicester City Council Heritage Partnership Meeting held on November 13th, Stuart Warburton gave an update as to the progress on the rebuilding of the Stephenson Lift Bridge, previously located at Snibston. Stuart reported that Phase 1,which involved research into the history of the structure and its current condition, is now complete.

LIHS have acquired a number of drawings of the Bridge, including photographs. The ironwork is safely in storage, but not the timbers. As to finding a home for the Bridge, an exploratory meeting took place with the Leicester North Project as a starter for Phase 2 of the Project to try and ascertain who will rebuild it (a possible apprenticeship scheme?) and its final home.

Looking further ahead, a Phase 3 will involve obtaining funding. Stuart reiterated that he would like to set up a working party to further develop Phase 2 and Phase 3. Sir Peter Soulsby, Chairing the meeting, commented on the good progress made with the Project and advised that council officers could be involved with the working party, as well as Cllr Clarke as Heritage Champion. He also agreed that Leicester North would have some benefits as a location.

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Bulletin 21

The Fine Bunch of Boys at the mill

Steel Tube Making at Desford 1941-2006

‘That Fine Bunch of Boys at the Mill!’, the story of Tubes has been diligently researched and written by the late John N Briggs BSc (Eng), CNI and edited by David Pearce. With access to a host of material following the cessation of manufacture in 2007, the history is a mixture of original text, b/w and colour photographs, oral histories, snippets from the in house newsletter ‘Eagle News’ on the day-to-day life at Desford, and points of reference for future historians. In the 100 or so pages, we see how Tubes evolved from being a WW II shadow factory making rocket casings for the war effort, to becoming a major worldwide force in the production of bearing tube - and receiving 3 Queen’s Awards to Industry on the way.

Bulletin 21, That Fine Bunch of Boys at the Mill! by John Briggs, came in for particular praise with a Member of the AIA Awards Committee quoted as saying: “As a comprehensive history of a business that has come and gone well within my lifetime it is outstanding. Not only does it cover the technical developments but also the business side in the context of the national economy, which so few firms’ histories do, as well as the social and human aspects”

Bulletin Number 21, That Fine Bunch of Boys at the Mill! Steel Tube Making at Desford, 1941-2006 is priced at £7.50 to LIHS Members and £10.00 to non-members, p&p is £2.00. Order Form available here.

This major update on the history of this railway line and associated companies is now out on CD. Over 600 pages and hundreds of previously unpublished photographs.

(Note: CD can only be viewed on computer)

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Bulletin 22

The Development of Colliery Company Housing in Moira

Bulletin 22, The Development of Colliery Company Housing in Moira (1811-1916) has been a long time in the making! It began life in the late 1970’s and builds on the original work by Mike Bannister and the late George Bowles, and was completed by Dr Wendy Freer who also studied the demographics relating to occupancy and living space, birth and death rates, and occupations, to produce a well-rounded view of the life and times, quite literally at the coal face, during the period under scrutiny. A primary feature of the book, however, are the highly detailed hand drawn plans of a row of colliery houses made in 1979 by Mike and George.

Published by LIHS
Price to Members, £7.50 + £1.50 p&p, Non-Members, £10.00 + £1.50 p&p Order Form available here.

Winter Programme

'The dig team on a cold and frosty morning enjoying a BBQ at Swannington, with special thanks to Paul Siddals for firing it up!'

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Mark Sissons

Mark Sissons is a stalwart in the field of Industrial History, a long time member of LIHS and active in aspects of our kindred interests. He lived with Hilda, his wife, at Far Cotton just outside Market Bosworth until his retirement when he returned to his roots in Pickering and the North Yorkshire Railway. We have kept in touch and were aware that he was suffering from an inoperable brain tumour, but was coping within limits.
A few days ago however Mark wrote on Facebook:

'Four years ago I was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour. I decided that the best strategy was to ignore it, and get on with life as normal.
I now have to concede that unfortunately it looks as if the tumour is winning, so this is a goodbye message.'

I am sure that all of you who know Mark will appreciate the sincerity of his final message and wish him and Hilda a peaceful time as possible over the next time-span. David Lyne.